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Tiger Woods who shared the early first round lead for the PGA Championship at Valhalla and Jack Nicklaus, who struggled through his first round, talked as they strolled to the 14th green. , James H. Wallace/Courier Journal

Tiger Woods who shared the early first round lead for the PGA Championship at Valhalla and Jack Nicklaus, background, waited to tee off on the second hole of the tournament. , James H. Wallace/Courier Journal

Tiger Woods who shared the early first round lead for the PGA Championship at Valhalla and Jack Nicklaus, background, who struggled through his first round both waited for their chance to putt on the 14th green. , James H. Wallace/Courier Journal

Tiger Woods, left, and Jack Nicklaus share a moment on the 12th tee during the second round of the PGA Championship, Friday, Aug. 18, 2000, at the Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky. , Charlie Neibergall/AP

Tiger Woods points to his ball as it drops for birdie on the first hole of a three-hole playoff against Bob May at the PGA Championship, Sunday, Aug. 20, 2000, at the Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky. May mad par on the hole. , Chuck Burton/AP

This story was originally published by the Courier Journal on Monday, August 21, 2000.

Overcoming a lackluster start and an opponent who just wouldn't go away, Tiger Woods rallied from two shots down to win the 82nd PGA Championship for his third straight major title.

He pulled even with Bob May on the 17th hole, then won a three-hole playoff by one shot at Valhalla Golf Club.

"That was one memorable battle, and I enjoyed it,'' Woods said. "I am sure Bob did, too. And hopefully all of you here enjoyed the same thing, because it was a very special day. We never backed off one another. That's as good as it gets.''

Woods, who won the U.S. Open by 15 shots and the British Open by eight, is the only player other than Ben Hogan in 1953 to claim three of the four majors in one year. He won the 1999 PGA at Medinah, giving him four of the past five majors.

"We played one of the most memorable rounds in major championships,'' Woods said. "There's been some great ones, but this one goes up there.''

The 24-year-old Woods had to work overtime to defeat a player who didn't have PGA Tour playing privileges at this time last year. Woods made birdie at No. 17 in regulation to catch the 31-year-old May, and they both birdied No. 18 to force the playoff, which started at No. 16.

Woods birdied that hole and parred the other two, while May made par on all three.

"We both just played so well at the same time,'' Woods said. "I mean, usually on the final day of a major, pars could be enough to cruise home. But not today.''

"Believe it or not, I don't feel disappointed at all,'' said May, who grew up near Woods in California. "I went out there and played a good solid round of golf, and I just fell a little short.''

A little short to the world's No. 1 golfer, who finally cracked a smile when fans spelled out T-I-G-E-R and started chanting his name before the trophy presentation.

"Coming down the stretch, I never really was caught up in the drama because you are so focused in on what you have to do,'' Woods said. "Winning three majors this year is obviously very special. ... This was probably the most exciting one from a player's standpoint. It was just very special.''